CHL wrapup and Iguanas memories

The Central Hockey League wrapped up another season this weekend and most folks in these parts really don’t give a flip, but the Austin Ice Bats are back in the post-season, playing their games in the Chaparrel Ice Center on I-35 at the Pfleugerville exit.

Former Rampage center Alex Leavitt led the CHL in scoring with 128 points… which means Brian Shantz’ scoring record remains for another season. Brian led the CHL with 139 in 64 games in the San Antonio Iguanas’ second season!

Actually, the end of the CHL season takes me back 13 years ago, when my wife, Judy, thought it would be a fun way to spend spring break with dad and the kids by following the Iguanas team bus up I-35 for games Friday in Fort Worth, Saturday in Tulsa and the season finale in Wichita on Sunday.

The Iguanas screwed things up by winning all three games, thus ensuring a playoff series opener against Tulsa, not OKC like most folks thought. So the team returned to Tulsa after winning in Wichita, while the Uminski car kept heading south to San Antonio.

But just to skate down memory lane for a moment.

My daughter Kati turned 17 on that St. Patrick’s Day in 1995. We celebrated her birthday with a little party among the 200 or so folks who showed up for the Fire-Iggy game. Kati tried her best to keep a stiff upper lip, but having a hunk of cake in row 25 in the Tarrant County Convention Center or being home with friends worshiping her every move. . . well, stiff upper lip time.

Kati was also getting ready to accept a prom invitation. So the next day in Tulsa, she went around the Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa, having Iggy players write a “message” to her prospective date on a t-shirt she was going to give the kid. I remember one typical Mark Yannetti epithet, (Yannetti, a Williams grad with a degree in English) “If you do anything to Kati, I personally guarentee the Iguanas will kick your . . .”

Kati loved the shirt so much she just showed the kid, who was happy for the date but a little unsure of the threats, instead of giving him the thing.

The absolute best hockey name ever was velcroed on an Iggy jersey that year . . . Jeff Winstanley! One of the classier guys on the team, John Torchetti somehow convinced the quiet blue liner to come play for S.A. in February and along with John Blessman, transformed the Iggy blueline overnight.

The Iguanas ended up killing the Thunder in a meaningless game for the Thunder players, but an Iggy win put them in a playoff with Tulsa. It was great. Playoffs, Iggy’s win 8-4, Thunder fans threaten my family. . . ah, the memories.

The Iggies ended up going seven with Tulsa that year, winning Game 7, 7-1 at Freeman Coliseum. They had to open the series in Oklahoma even though they finished second and the Oilers were third, because the Freeman had booked a Disney Ice Show. The Iguanas had over 9,000 in the Freeman for Game 3, but had to postpone the game because the Freeman technicians couldn’t remove the white ice paint from the ice surface. Incidentally, for those who think hockey will never work in this town, that was a near sellout on the same night as the NCAA National Championship game on TV.

But in the finals, the Lizards lost in six to the Thunder.

I remember Torchetti, arms folded, steam coming off his head as he watched the Thunder celebrate winning the cup at the Kansas Coliseum. I asked him why he was putting himself through watching them flaunt their win. Torch just said, “I want to be out there next year.”

Torch got close, as the Iguanas rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win Game 5 in the next year’s finals against Oklahoma City. Trevor Buchanan scored the game winner that prompted yours truly to utter his most memorable line, “Load up the bus! We are going to Oklahoma City!” The Iguanas then won Game 6 in the Myriad Center, only to come up short again in Game 7, a 4-2 loss.

Again, playoff sellouts at the Freeman! Hockey was hot in San Antonio!